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Copyrighted by 

Mrs. Llvla Slmpson-Poffenbarger, 

1«)4 

John Browns Raid. Trial and Execution 

Copyrighted by 

Cleon Moore, Esq., 

Charles-Town, W. Va., 

Pabllshed by Permission. 



LIBRARY of Of^Nvx-JES.' 
Two OoDies Rtc- • ' I 

MAY 17 1809 I 

CLASS A Kf' . 




JOHN BROWN, 



(bpitome of the Life of 

including the stony of his 

iittaek on harpers ^erri( 

and 

>yiLs i^apture, U rial and (bzecution, 

—/is tJvelated bt/ 

L^leon >^/VCoore (bs^., 

6f ehanles^Joivn, W. 14. 



•^ALrs. I^ivLa= Simpson U, offenhcingen, 

Editor and ^uStisAer, 
^oint Pleasant. W. Va. 

/90U 



^chn i^rcwn'^ Attaak en yiarpers ^ern(. 



For years, travelers going- east granduer of its scenery. Nature 

and west on the Baltimore & Ohio seems to have made one tremen- 

Railroad viewed with interest dous upheaval, and the beautiful 

John Brown's Fort at Harpers Shenandoah river seems to have 

Ferry, which was subsequently rent in twain the mountains to 

taken down and exhibited at the pour its waters into the Potomac. 

Chicago Exposition, and later, Here in the valley of the Shenan- 

shipped back and erected on doah, lived a people who were the 

lands near Harpers Ferry, but flower of the Virginias; elegant, 

not on the original site. The refined, cultured, with slaves to 

original spot is marked, however, respond to their needs. Here 

by a tablet commemorative of was quiet and peace and plenty, 

the historic place. Harpers with no dream of the terrible 

Ferry is not only a place of his- depredations of the war that was 

toric interest but of romantic soon to deluge the valley in blood, 

beauty. Its appearance from Is itany wonder that, when John 

the railroad is anything but Brown made his raid on Harpers 

pleasing, but, once ascend to its Ferry, the key to the Valley, 

mountain tops and you will agree that it shook the whole nation 

with Thomas Jefferson, that, "It and did more to precipitate the 

is the most beautiful country on war than all the speeches that 

earth." Here are Bolivar Heights had been made in Congress and 

in West Virginia, Louden Heights all the books and newspapers 

in Virginia, and Maryland that had been published in the 

Heights in Maryland, each vieing North, or all the eloquence that 

with the other in the beauty and had poured from the lips of men 



6 

and women. From the hour of Town and stood on the spot 
John Brown's raid and execution where Brown received his sen- 
the war was inevitable. The tence. 

storiesof the insurrection were as The following- is a copy of the 
varied as the clouds in the heav- order, showing- the finding- of 
ens, and we doubt if as impartial the indictment, 
a story of the raid was ever pub- 

lished as that which we have INDICTMENT, 

had the g-ood fortune to procure "An indictment ag-ainst John 
from Mr. Cleon Moore one of Brown, Aaron C. Stephens, Kd- 
the prominent attorne3^s of win Coppic, Shields Green and 
Charles-Town, West Virginia. John Copeland for Treason, ad- 
Mr. Moore's father was the vising and conspiring with slaves 
Clerk of the Court in which and others to rebel, and for mur- 
Brown was tried and received der. A true Bill, 
his sentence of execution. Thos. Rutherford, Foreman." 
Mr. Cleon Moore afterward They all pleaded not guilty to 
saw service throughout the the indictment, 
civil war, enlisting in the Con- The following is the verdict of 
federate army. At the solicita- the jury in the case of Frown 
tion of his friends some two who had a separate trial, 
years ag-o he wrote the story, 

but never consented to its publi- VERDICT, 

cation until we learned of it "We, the jury, find the defend- 
throug-h Judg-e Faulkner, of ant, John Brown the prisoner at 
Martinsburg, who went with us the bar, guilty of treason, advis- 
to Mr. Moore's office and impor- ing and conspiring- with slaves 
tuned him to consent to the pub- and others to rebel, and for mur- 
lication of the article which is der, in the first deg-ree. 
now g-iven to the public for the Jno. C. Willshire, Foreman." 
first time. Brown being asked if he 

Harpers Ferry is in Jefferson had anything to say, made no 
County and Charles-Town is the statement, when the Judge or- 
count}' seat of that county, dered that "he be hanged by the 
Here Brown, when he was cap- neck until he be dead and that 
tured, was put in jail and here the execution of this judg-ement 
was tried by a jury of his peers, be made and done upon him, the 
We had the pleasure of re- said John Brown, by the Sheriff 
viewing the records of the trial of Jefferson County, on Friday, 
in the Circuit Clerk's office in the second dav of December 
the old Court House of the next, between the hours of nine 
County of Jefferson at Charles- o'clock in the forenoon and four 



o'clock in the afternoon of the three years have passed away 
same day, and it is further or- since the Brown raid at Harpers 
dered that execution of this Ferry, in October, 1859, I re- 
judg-ement be made and done up- member distinctly many of the 
on the said John Brown, not in incidents connected with it, and, 
the jail yard but at such other as much for my own ofratification 
place in this county convenient as for any other purpose, I have 
thereto as the said Sheriff may determined to write them, 
select." There is one commendation I 

The prisoner then by his coun- can claim for this article, 
sel tiled three Bills of Exceptions if no other, and that is what is 
and on November 24, 1859 ap- stated herein is accurate and 
plied for an appeal to the su- correct. I have not drawn upon 
preme Court of Appeals, at Rich- my imag-ination, or listened to 
mond, which was refused, the many of the wild stories that 
Court being- of the opinion "that have been told in connection 
the said judg-ement is plainly with the exciting times when 
rig-ht, doth deny the writ of Brown with his armed band 
error." came to Harpers Ferry in 

During- the Civil war the Court October, 1859, and, on a quiet 
records were removed to Shep- Sunday night, took possession of 
ardstown, and the Court house the U. S. Armory and buildings. 
at Charles-Town was occupied by I was living- in Charles-Town, 
U. S. Soldiers, of Cole's Cavalry Jefferson County, Virginia, at 
and the Court House converted the time; had left school, and 
into a fortification. The Court was employed in the County 
House was built in 1802, but has Clerk's Office of Jefferson 
since been remodeled. Charles- County, Virg-inia, a town ten 
Town is named for its founder miles west of Harpers Ferry. 
Charles Washington and is over While in the Clerks Office, I met 
130 years old. The princioal John E. Cook, one of Brown's 
streets of the town are named Captains, who was hung in 
for the g-iven names of the Wash- December, 1859, and wrote his 
ington family except that of marriage license. He was 
Washing-ton Streetwhich is given teaching school at the time in 
the sir name of the family. the county, and married a Miss 
Kennedy. At the time he ob- 

John Brown's Raid, Trial Gained his license to marry, he 

asked the number of slaves in 

and Execution. the county, stating that he had 

[Written by Cleon Moore. J a bet with a friend as to the 

Although more than forty- correct number. The Clerk 



8 

examined the Assessor's book people of that section of the 
and g-ave him the desired infor- country. The first person who 
mation. What use he made of it broug-ht the news to Charles- 
I cannot tell. No one suspected Town was the overseer of Col. S. 
that some of Brown's men W. Washing-ton's farm, who lived 
lived in the neig-hborhood. near Halltovvn, a small villag-e 

Surprise. four miles east of Charles-Town. 

The raid was a complete sur- He rode into the town early in 
prise to the people of the lower the morning', and told some of 
valley of Virg-inia. It was as the citizens on the street that' the 
great a surprise to them, as it Abolitionists had captured 
would be to the citizens of New Harpers Ferry, and, some time 
York Cit}^ if active hostilities during the night, before had 
were to break out in Wall Street gone to Col. S. W. Washington's 
today. residence, taken him a prisoner 

John Brown had lived on a and carried him off in a wagon, 
farm two miles from Harpers When he made this statement, 
Ferry, in the state of Maryland Mr. Leonard Sadler, a prominent 
for some months, giving his and wealthy citizen of the town, 
name as John Smith, making the gave it as his opinion that the 
impression that he was engaged man was crazy and ought to be 
in mining, that is, prospecting- for committed to the county jail, 
ores. He frequently came to Dr. John B. Starry, a practicing 
Harpers Ferry during his resi- physician in the town of Harpers 
dence at that place, and some of Ferry, had his office near the B. 
the citizens of the town had un- & O. railroad and adjoining- the 
important business with him, hotel in that place. He heard the 
and they regarded him as a commotion, when Brown aod his 
quiet inoffensive old man. men marched across the bridg-e, 

News at Charles-Town. which spanned the Potomac 

On the morning of October 16, river from Maryland to the Vir- 
1859, the citizens of Charles- ginia shore, and heard the shot 
Town were informed that an fired that killed Hayward Shep- 
armed band, headed by pard, the colored porter at the 
"Ossawattimie Brown," of depot. Thinking- it was some 
Kansas fame, had taken posses- drunken carousel, he laid quiet 
sion of the U. S. Armory at in his bed for a while, to which 
Harpers Ferry, and that their he had retired for the night, 
avowed purpose was to free the Hayward Sheppard was not a 
slaves of Virg-inia. Some inci- slave, but was a free negro, as 
dents will show that the raid was such were then called. But, 
a complete surprise to the hearing more moving about and 



9 

some wag-ons coming over the made no reply to Dr. Starry's 
bridg-e, he put on his clothes, remarks, until thev reached the 
and walked around to the Ar- brow of the hill, overlooking the 
mory gate, a short distance from Government building's. When 
his office. He learned that the they reached that point, they 
nig-ht train on the B, & O. road saw a colored man with a gun 
had been detained. When he marching- up and down in front 
reached the Armory gate, he of Hull's Rifle Works, on the 
found armed men stationed at Shenandoah River. It was 
the entrance. He spoke to them plain he was there as a sentinel. 
in a sharp, quick tone, demand- Mr. Tearney turned to Dr. 
ing- what they were doing-, and Starry and remarked: "I owe 
what they meant by taking pos- you an apology." When asked 
session of the government why, he remarked, "I was 
property. One of the men drew thoroughly convinced you had 
his rifle from beneath his lost your mind, and I was re- 
blanket, and ordered him to fleeting how I could put you 
come in the yard. The doctor under restraint. I now see that 
stepped backward across the tbe situation is more serious 
street, and succeeded in getting than I had any idea of." I 
his riding horse saddled and mention, this to show what a 
bridled. Knowing well all the surprise the raid was to every 
streets and alleys of the town, one, even to the people who were 
he succeeded about daylight taken from their beds and car- 
next morning in getting up into ried as prisoners to the engine 
Bolivar, the adjoining town, house in Harpers Ferr}'. Mr. 
In that place he met Mr. Edward L. P. Starry, a brother of Dr. 
Tearney, afterwards Sheriff of Starry, went to Bolivar with 
the Count}', with a number of some men, with a gun on his 
workmen going towards Har- shoulder on that morning, 
pers Ferry to finish up some Reaching the top of the hill 
work for the Government at the overlooking Shenandoah street. 
Armory. The Doctor rode up he saw in the road some few 
to Mr. Tearney, and in an ex- armed men. He called to them 
cited manner told him that an and asked who they were. The 
armed band had taken possession reply came. "Friends, come 
of both Armories, and that it down." He went down where 
would not be safe for him to go the men were and soon learned 
down to the town. Mr. Tearney he was a prisoner in the hands 
was on horseback, and continued of the insurgents. They were 
on the course he had started, the at the point where High street 
doctor riding by his side. He comes into Shenandoah street. 



10 



and seemed to be watching- 
somebody or something up High 
street. One of them stepped 
out into the middle of the street 
and fired with his Sharpe's 
rifle. One of his friends asked 
him "Did you bring him?", "No" 
he said, "I did not bring him 
that time" He steppped back- 
on the pavement, and being 
protected by the brick house on 
the corner, re-loaded his rifle, 
ofoing- back into the street, took 
deliberate aim and flred. Look- 
ing intently up the street, he 
remarked "Brought him that 
time" This was when Mr. 
George Turner, a prominent 
citizen of the county was killed. 
Soon after a heavy volley was 
poured into the insurgents, and 
the party scattered toward the 
Arsenal and Armory. One 
mulatto man, of Brown's party, 
was killed in the street. Sesing- 
that in the confusion no attention 
was paid to him, Mr. Starry 
ran up High Street, to the 
stone steps leading to the 
Catholic Church, and made his 
escape. 

Charles Town to the Rescue. 

On Monday, October 16, 
1859, I was awakened quite 
early in the morning by the 
sound of drum and fife in 
Charles-Tovvn, Virg-inia. The 
drummer and fifer marched up 
and down the street, g-iving- the 
alarm. Knowing that it was not 
treneral-muster day, and there 



was no parade of any kind, I 
hastened down street to ascer- 
tain the cause of the excitement, 
and was soon informed that 
Capt. John Brown, of Kansas 
fame, had taken possession of 
the Harpers Ferry Armory with 
an armed band, and word had 
been sent out to hasten down 
with troops that they might be 
driven away. I was not a mem- 
ber of a military company, but 
joined for the occasion, the 



-■^-**«««SS; 




Luai'L Iiin[,-i>^ at L JiUii (.■->- I tJicn 

Where JoJin Bnxcn Wan 

Tried and ■•>eh1enced. 

"Jefferson Guards", commanded 
by Capt. John R. Rowan. After 
parading the streets for a short 
time, we were put on the train at 
the depot of the Winchester and 
Potomac Railroad and taken a 
short distance below Halltown. 



11 



We were then marched over the them, but were at last compelled 
hill through the town of Bolivar, to take refuge in the building, 
by the powder magazine, to the We could hear them hammering 
old furnace, a point on the Poto- holes in the walls, though which 
mac River, about two miles west they could shoot at the attack- 
of Harpers Ferry. ing party. During the after- 
At this point we ferried across noon some firing was kept up 
the river in a flat boat to the between Brown's men and the 
Canal, and marched down the militia, but not so brisk after 
tow-path to the railroad bridge the request from the prisoners 
which crossed the river at Brown had in the engine house 
Harpers Ferry. Rain had fallen to desist, as they were in the 
heavily during the morning, and greatest danger. Mr. Samuel 
we could not very well distin- Strider raised a white flag and 
ugish objects in Harpers Ferry, went into the armory yard to the 
but could hear a noise as if door of the engine house. Af- 
frame buildings were being torn ter a short interview with Brown 
down, and some hammering, he returned to where Capt. Row- 
We crossed the covered bridge an's company was in line in the 
and took position at and near the street near the hotel, and carried 
railroad track. A good deal of a proposition from Brown to 
firing was going on, and it Capt. Row^an, that he would 
seemed to be directed at the come out of the engine house, re- 
engine house, which stood just lease the prisoners, if he would 
inside the Armory yard. A allow him to go half way across 
small monument is now located the bridge with his men and 
there to mark the spot. Word give an opportunity for a fair 
was sent out under the flag of fight. To this Capt. Rowan 
truce, requesting that the firing made no reply. I have neglected 
should cease, as the prisoners to mention that Mr. Leonard 
were in more danger from the Saddler, who wanted Col. Wash- 
flying bullets than Brown's ington's over-seer committed to 
men. Just before the last of jail as a lunatic, when he brought 
Brown's men were compelled to the first news of the raid to 
take refuge in the engine house, CharlesTown early in the morn- 
I witnessed two of them in the ing, had joined the company 
Armory yard, with their as a volunteer, shouldered his 
blankets around them, retur- gun and buckled on his accoutre- 
ning the fire with their Sharpe's ments, keeping in line with the 
rifles and they stood their company all the time. He was 
ground for some time, while the an old man, considerably over 
shots fell thick and fast around sixty years of age and very fat, 



12 

but his courag-e was undoubted, by some to kill the prisoners in 
When the message from Brown the hotel. A rush was made, 
was delivered to Capt. Rowan, he and one man, whose name I after- 
was quite near, and the only per- ward learned was Thompson, 
son I heard express a positive Brown's brother-in-law, was 
opinion on the subject was Mr. dragg-ed out of the building and 
Saddler, whose advice was, "take pushed along- the low porch of 
the sons-of-bitches out of the the hotel to near the mouth of 
engine house and shoot them." the bridge, and shot, his body 
i>lr. Beckham Killed. then being- thrown into the river. 

I cannot recall what time it When the shots were fired a cry 
was during the day, when I was raised "here they come," 
heard some one cry out "Mr. and it was thought for a while 
Beckham is killed." Mr. Fon- that Brown's men were about to 
taine Beckham was an old g-en- make an effort to break through 
tleman, highly respected and and escape. There was another 
Mayor of the town. He had been prisoner in the hotel, A.aron D. 
much excited during the day, Stevens, who was desperately 
and very much distressed at the wounded, lying on a couch, 
death of Sheppard, the colored Several pushed their way into 
porter who was killed early in the building- with loaded g-uns, 
the morning. determined to take his life. 

I was standing- in front of the Heroine to the Rescue. 

Gault House at the time, and Miss Christine Fouke, an 
walked around the hotel onto the estimable lady who lived in the 
railroad track and saw Mr. hotel at the time, threw herself in 
Beckham's body lying- on the plat- front of him and pursuaded them 
form near the water tank. Soon to desist. Stevens was hung- in 
after, some one went with a Charles-Town the following- 
wheel-barrow and brought the March with Albert Hazlett. 
body to the hotel. At or about When night came on, most of 
that time Brown's men were Brown's men had been killed, 
driven in the engine house, a captured, or made their escape 
companv from Martinsburg into Maryland. Some time in 
made a gallant charge from the the night, a company of marines 
western side of the Armory arrive^l from Washjngton, under 
yard, and some of them were jthe command f of Col. Robert E. 
wounded. ^ Lee, afterwards famous in the 

Excitement Intense. \civil war. Next morning early. 

After Mr. Beckam's death, negotiations were opened with 
the excitement became in- Capt. Brown. A demand was 
tense. A loud demand was made made for his surrender, but he 



13 

refused. The marines were in of the town entertained the 
the Armory yard near the en- troops and many pleasant ac- 
g-ine house. Col, Lee ordered quaintances were formed. 
Lieut. Israel Green to storm the At that time, I met J. Wilkes 
fort. A ladder was used to bat- Booth, who was a member of 
ter in the door, and, when an en- Company F, of Richmond, or 
trance was effected, Lieut, had joined that company for the 
Green was the first to rush into occasion. He impressed me as 
the house where Brown and his being a quiet, reserved young 
men were, striking Brown over man. He was frequently at my 
the head with his sword which father's house, and I often talked 
knocked him unconscious to the with him; but I never saw him 
ground. While the marines were after he left the place with his 
battering in the doors, Brown's company. </ j / 

men continued to fire, killing a I shall not undertake a dis- 
marine whose name was Luke cription of the trial of John 
Quinn and wounding- several. Brown and his men, although I 
To Free the Slaves attended the whole time. Brown 

Very soon all was over. Two was arraigned for the first time 
or three of Brown's men lay dy- in the County Court. He was 
ing on the ground. Brown was badly scarred up with wounds 
taken over to the hotel, scarred and reclined upon a cot. When 
and wounded. Gov. Wise, of called upon to answer the charges 
Virginia, arrived, and Mr. Val- against him, he frankly avowed 
landingham, of Ohio, and also what he had done and expressed 
other prominent g-entlemen from no regrets. 

Washington. They questioned He said that he did not want 
Brown as to the object of the any mockery of a trial, and, if 
raid, a "" ':"^ candidly and fear- the Virginians thirsted for his 
lessly stated it was-for the pur- blood, to take him out and shoot 
pose cf freeing the slaves of inc lillTl. He was then confined in 
South. He seemed to g-lory in the jail and'^sent o^^ to the Circuit 
the course he had taken. Court for trial. The\f^ Tl'^e io- 

Brown and the other prisoners dieted as any other criminalsahti 
were turned over to the Virginia had a fair trial. Brown was 
authorities, and were taken to hung on the 2nd of December, 
Charles-Town and confined in 1859, Cook and Coppic, and 
the jail at that place. During Copeland and Green, the last 
their incarceration and trial, a two colored men, on the 16th 
largenuraber of statetroopswere of December, and Aaron D. 
stationed at the county seat, Stevens and Albert Hazelett, on 
(Charles-Town.) The citizens the 16th of March following-. My 



14 



recollection of the trial of John 
E. Cook, a brother-in-law of Gov. 
Willard, of Indiana, is ver}' dis- 
tinct. Charles B. Harding-, 
P osecuting Attorney, of the 
County, and Mr. Andrew Hun- 
ter, a prominent lawyer of the 
Valley, appeared for the prosecu- 
tion; and Mr. Vorhees, of Indi- 
ana, appeared as counsel for the 
prisoner. During the exami- 
nation of the witnesses, Mr. 
Vorhees did not ask a single 
question. Gov. Willard, of Indi- 
ana, went on the stand and stat- 
ed that Cook had wandered off 
from his family some years ago, 
and they knew nothing of his 
whereabouts until they heard of 
his connection with the Brown 
raid; that he was of a visionary 
nature, and fond of roving. 
When the time came for Mr. 
Vorhees to make his speech to 
the jury, he arose, loosened his 
neck-tie and commenced. He 
had not uttered two sentences 
before he had the attention of all 
in the court room. His speech 
has been published in a volumn, 
and is familiar to manv, but the 
effect of it, at the tim'^ oi ifs de- 
livery, can -^Voe described. Be- 
^'^jT.The had proceeded far, there 
was hardlv a dry eye in the 
court room. The whole tenor 
of it was a plea for mercy for his 
client. Old men wept like child- 
ren. Judge Parker, Judg-e of the 
Circuit Court, and the lawyers 
at the bar wept and sobbed. But 
it was all of no avail; he was 



found guilty of murder and in- 
citing the slaves to insurrection, 
but not g-uilty of treason. There 
seemed to be a relief when the 
trials were over. I was frequent- 
ly in the jail where the prisoners 
were confined, and the men were 
treated as kindly as prisoners 
generally are, but were closely 
g-uarded. The one I talked n\ost 
with was Aaron D. Stevens. He 
was so badly wounded that he 
could not be tried as soon as the 
others. He was a confirmed 
spiritualist, and frequently told 





JoJni Jij'Oirii\'< Fort lit Ihirj/Ci'ft 

J;}:ZL 

me that after he was.>ung, he 
would come anl >ee me^ft In- lni:< 
ru'ver C('J,\id. He was a constant 
reader of the books of Robert 
Dale Owen and Redpath, and 
used to laugh at the Bible; he did 
not care to read it or talk about 
it, but frequently laughed over it. 
Execution of John Brown. 

I witnessed John Brown's 
execution on the 2nd of Decem- 
ber, 185^), as I did all the others, 
and can state with accuracy 
what occurccL A good manv 



15 

wild stories have been told about execution, were Sheriff Campbell, 
it, and, for most of them there is George W. Saddler, who drove 
not the slightest foundation. and L. P, Starry; they sat on 

The day of the execution was the front seat, and John Brown 
as mild as May. Mr. Geo. W. sat on his coffin in the back part 
Saddler, who at the time was en- of the wagon. The rope with 
gaged in the undertaking and which he was hung was placed 
furniture business,furnished the around his neck in the jail, but 
wagon to take Brown to the scaf- was concealed under his coat, 
fold. About eleven o'clock of The wagon was guarded by a 
that day, Mr. Saddler drove his file of soldiers on each side, from 
two horse wagon to the front the jail to the scaffold, which 
door of the jail on Main street, was about three quarters of a 
Mr. James W. Campbell was mile from the jail, in a field 
Sheriff of the county. Just before south of the town. There were 
Brown was taken to his execu- no negroes near the wagon, at 
tion, he was permitted to go to the jail, nor at any time on the 
the cells occupied by his asso- wa}' to the place of execution, 
ciates in the desperate under- Spot of Execution Unknown. 

taking. He took leave of each, It is a fact which I think I can 
giving to all of them a memento, state, without contradiction, that 
except John E. Cook. He gave there is no one in the town of 
him nothing, but criticised him Charles-Town, now West Vir- 
severely for statements made in ginia, who can designate with 
his confession. Cook had writ- any accuracy the exact spot 
ten and published what was call- where Brown was hung. It was 
ed his confession, about the time near the place where now stands 
of his trial. the large and handsome resi- 

When leaving the cell occupied dence of Col. John T. Gibson; 
by Cook and Edwin Coppic, but the exact spot where the exe- 
Brown remarked to Cook: "You cution took place cannot now be 
made false statements in your pointed out. 

confession." Cook's reply was: The wagon, containing the 
"In what particular, Capt. prisoner above mentioned, was 
Brown?" and the only reply driven onto the street adjoining 
Brown gave him was, "Shut up, the jail, and in a southern di- 
Capt. Cook, you lied." rection from the town. At the 

Cook hung his head and did southern border of the town it 
not utter another word. Capt. was driven into a field and along 
Brown came out of the jail with the fence, next to what was 
Sheriff James W. Campbell. called the river road, a road 

In the wagon on the wav to the leading to the Shenandoah river. 



16 

When it reached the top of the sired that there should be none. 

hill, a turn was made to the left The sheriff then cut the rope 

towards where the scaffold and Brown died without much 

was erected. Nothing was said of a strug-g-le. After hang-ing 

on the march to the place of about twenty minutes, the body 

execution, until just before the was cut down and taken to the 

turn was made on the top of the jail in the coffin, on which he sat 

ridge towards the scaffold, which going to his execution. 

was in full view, around which a . . ^ . , i i • .li r. 

- , About four o clock in the aiter- 

square of soldiers was formed. ^u u j ^ ^ ^ t-, 

/^ . ,, c^ 1 11 noon, the body was taken to Har- 

At tbat time Mr. baddler re- r- , " -i • , 

, . , ^ . T^ pers b errv by rail on a special 

marked: "Capt. Brown you , . a j ^ -xl -^ 

, , 1 ., r +rain. A guard was sent with it» 

seem to be calmer than any of ,. „ " „^ .. u, , ^r 

,, ^^ 1- 1 ,, T X Mr. George W. Saddler and Mr. 

us'. Brown replied,' lam not t -n o^ • -i. 

. , , . , , L(. P. Starry accompaning it. 

at all excited; nothing to be ex- 
cited about." Then Capt. Brown Brown's wife was at Harpers 

looked around and said, "This Ferry to receive the remains, 

is the most beautiful country 1 which were to be taken north for 

ever saw. It is the first time I burial. There were a number 

have ever had the opportunity of oi gentlemen at Harpers Ferry 

seeino- it." ^^ whom the body was delivered. 

When the wagon reached the Among them was a doctor who5e 
place of execution. Brown got name cannot be recalled. A re- 
out and walked up the steps of quest was made to have the cas- 
the scaffold, without any assist- ^'et opened, that the body might 
ance, and the only remark he ^e identified as the body of Capt. 
made after reaching the scaffold Brown. The casket which was 
was, "Be quick." After he got made of walnut, was opened and 
on the scaffold he walked to the they were satisfied. One of the 
trap door and stood under the party to whom the body was de- 
beam. The sheriff", Mr. James Hvered remarked that it was 
W. Campbell, adjusted the rope rather strange that the body 
which had been placed around should be so offensive as he had 
his neck in the jail, on the hook been executed about 12 o'clock 
in the beam above, and came of that day. H. D. Middlekauff, 
down the steps. It was while he one of the guards, and noted as a 
was coming down the steps wit of the company, remarked 
Brown made the remark "Be that "he was a damn bad case 
quick." There were no relig- and would not keep long." 
ious services of any kind at Cleon Moore, 
the scaffold. It was generally Charles-Town, W. Va. 
understood that Brown de- Oct. 31-1902. 



17 

The sensational expfoit of These as well as his firmness of 
Brown at Harpers Ferry and his character were due to heredity 
tragic deatn at Charles Town oc- and early training. His father 
cured in his sixtieth year, he belonged to the school of aboli- 
having been born at Tarrington. tionists who founded their prin- 
Conn., May 9th, 1800. He came ciples on the teachings of Hop- 
by his sturdiness of character kins and Edwards and imbibed 
and zealous piety honestly. On their sentiments. Owen Brown 
his parental side, he was of Pu- seems to have been a participant 
ritan blood, his ancestor, Peter in the rescue of slaves claimed 
Brown, an unmarried carpenter, by a Virginia clergvman in 1789, 
having landed from the Mayflow- two years before the birth of his 
er at Plymouth in 1620. From son. When the son was only five 
hira the abolitionist was fifth in years old, his father removed to 
line of the descent. Soonafterthe Ohio and settled at Hudson, 
settlement at Plymouth, he went among the Indians in a wild coun- 
with Bradford. Standish.Winslow try, slightly beyond the borders 
and others to the new settle- of civilization, a situation well 
ment at Duxbury. He died at an calculated to develop the quali- 
early age, after having been ties of self reliance, personal 
twice married. From him was bravery and forgetfulness of the 
descended a Captain John Brown obligations and sanctions of law 
of the Connecticut Malitia, who and civil government. Here at 
married Hannah Owen, a woman an early age his dislike of slavery 
of Welsh ancestry. A son by was accentuated and turned into 
this marriage was Owen Brown, bitter hatred by an object lesson, 
who married Rujh Mills At the house at which he was 
pt^Dutch descent. These were staying, there was slave-boy of 
the parents of "Osawatomie" about his own age, who was bad- 
John Brown, who, it is said, ly treated — beaten, as Brown de- 
all through his eventful life, full clares with an iron fire-shovel, 
of adventure, daring and blood- This, he says, made him "a most 
shed, was a constant reader of determined abolitionist" and 
the Bible, an observer of the or- caused him "to declare or swear 
dinance of prayer, and an ab- eternal war with slavery." 
stainer from dancing, card-play- His nature, as well as his early 
ing and other habits, peculiar environments, portended the 
to those who lead roving and dauntlessness of spirit, of reek- 
stormy lives, such as his. lessness of consequence which 
The ruling passions of his life characterized the life of this man 
were religious zeal, enmity to who played such a singular and 
slavery and love of liberty, tragic part in the prelude to the 



18 

great dama of civil war. A short been' due to the peculiarity of 
time before his death he wrote a his views respectinjc war and its 
autobiog-raphy in which he re- leg-itimate purposes. His vision 
corded the story of his boyhood, was too narrow to g-rasp all the 
only by way of illustrating- his obligations and duties imposed 
disposition and character, it is by citizenship and patriotism, 
to be noted that he relates his The consuming passion which 
theft of three brass pins at the ruled all his thoughts and acts of 
age of four years, and says he a public nature, subordinated 
was never quarrelsome, but ex- every other consideration, warp- 
ceedinsfly fond of the harshest ed his judgment and dulled his 
and roughest kind of plays; and sense and concejjtion of legal 
could never get enough of them, rights and relations and the 
At school he delighted in wrest- aims, purposes and restraints of 
ling, snow-balling, knocking off government and law, so far as 
hats and other vigorous and mis- they stood in the way of his de- 
chievious pranks. His absolute sign. It preyed upon his mind 
fearlessness is evidenced by the to such an extent as to prevent 
fact that when but twelve years his steady adherence to anything 
old, he was sent on responsible else. While others trembled for 
expeditions of a hundred miles the safety of the government 
through that unsettled country, with all its beneficient institu- 
full of wild beasts and not yet tions during the critical period 
safe from Indian depredation, from 1820 to 1859, the impor- 
Having these qualities, any in- tanceof maintainiiigit,or the dan- 
clination he might have had, ger of its disruption, seems not 
would have found ready oppor- to have given him much concern 
tunity for exercise in pioneer ad- — not enough at least to put any 
venture, either as a frontiers- restraint upon his purpose. He 
man, or as a soldier in the Indian saw only what was to him an in- 
wars, or the Texan and Mexican sufferable evil, slavery. Libera- 
wars, but he seems not to have tion of the slaves he conceived to 
h^d any military spirit. Karly be a divine work in which it 
contact with the soldiers in the was his duty to assist. To that 
war of 1812, gave him an aversion end he would make any sacrifice 
tomilitary life. He not only failed and utilize the sword, -although 
to enlist, but refused to perform averse to war and determined 
such dutv, preferring to pay never to resort to or engage in it, 
lines imposed for failure in that except it be a war for liberty, 
respect. His whole life refutes Accordingly, it diverted him 
the theory of cowardice and from his business, led him to 
proves his disinclination to have sacrifice his sons upon its alter 



19 

and finally his own life upon ed them to give their lives to 
the grallows. anti-slavery work. This letter 

His father was a farmer and was written in 1834, while he 
tanner, and Brown worked for was post-master at Randolph, 
him from the ag-e of fifteen to Pa., and oflBciall}^ franked to his 
nineteen. Then, in 1819, he went brother Frederick. Though 
to Plainfield, Mass., with the in- holding office under Andrew 
tention of entering the ministry Jackson, he expressed in this 
of the orthodox Calvinistic letter his intention to prosecute 
Church, but a chronic inflama- war against slavery, and disclos- 
tion of the eyes interfered and ed his plan which was to procure 
he abandoned it, returning to the union of abolition families in 
Ohio and engaged in the tanners the work of educating the color- 
trade, in which he continued for ed youth. He said, "If once the 
about twenty years, prosecuting christians of the free states 
his business partly in Ohio and would set to work in earnest 
partly in Crawford County, Penn- teaching the blacks, the people 
sylvania. j Sometime after bis of the slave-holding states would 
return he married a widow find themselves constitutionally 
. named Diantha Lusk, who bore driven to set about the work of 
him seven children. Of her he emancipation immediately." 
said she was "a remarkably Being of a restless disqosition, 
plain, but neat, industrious, and he was not concent with the slow 
economical girl, of excellent process of accumulation of 
character, earnest piety and wealth by ordinary business, and 
good pratical common sense." resorted to speculation in real 
His second wife was Mary Anne estate, which resulted in the 
Day, who bore him thirteen loss of most of his property, and 
children and who died in San in 1840, he went into Western 
Francisco in 1886, twenty-five Virginia to survey a large tract 
years after his execution. Of of land which belonged to Ober- 
his twenty children, eight died lin College. He had learned sur- 
in earl\' childhood and the bal- veying in early life. It has been 
ance were devoties of his cher- suspected that, in this tripto Vir- 
ished objects, uniting in all his ginia, he had the laterlor motive 
enterprises and denying them- of a colonization scheme for liber- 
selves in every way by which they ated slaves. The information he 
could aid him. From a letter obtained on this" trip no doubt 
written by him in 1834, it ap- afterwards entered into his cal- 
pears that he at one time called culations in the movement upon 
his older sons together and. Harpers Ferry, though it is not 
while kneeling in prayer, pleadg- at all probable that he entertain- 



20 



ed any idea of a warlike expedi- were soon harrassed and 
tion as early as 1840. About plundered by marauders of the 
that time he eng-ag"ed in business neigfhborhood and of Missouri, 
again as a trader in wool, and, in T'hey had i^one there practically 
1846 he removed to Spring-field, unarmed and they wrote their 
Mass., and opened a wool ware- father asking him to bring them 
house. By an attempt to grade guns and ammunition. Of this 
wool in the market, he lost the opportunity to engage in the 
trade of the New England Man- enterprise lying nearest his 
ufacturers and carried a large heart, he eargely availed him- 
amount to London where he was self. He and all other abolition- 
compelled to dispose of it at ists realized the importance of 
such a ruinous price that he lost keeping slavery out of Kansas, 
everything he in the experiment. After taking his family back 
In 1849, he moved to North Elba, to North Elba, he journeyed to 
Essex County, New York, where Kansas, and at once became a 
Garit Smith, a sympathizer with leader in the border-warfare 
the slaves had given free home- which deluged Kansas in blood 
steads to a large number of free from 1SS4 to 1S5(). Owing to 
negroes. He had offered a hun- his arbitrary disposition how- 
dred thousand acres of wild land ever, he refused to co-operate 
to them and a number of them with other leading spirits of 
availed themselves of it. Brown anti shivery organization, and 
obtained some of it either by gift directed his small squad in his 
or purchase, and settled on it. own way. In Nov, 1855, the 
He and his sons worked and people of Lawrence were be- 
saved until they bad obtained seiged by an organized body of 
comfortable homes, but in 1851, pro-slavery men, and Brown and 
he returned to Ohio and resumed his four sons, completely 
the wool business. armed, joined them. The free 

Soon after this, circumstances state leaders, preferring not to 
developed which led Brown to bring on a collision, were seek- 
resort to force in the exercise of ing an adjustment, and Brown 
his zeal in behalf of the slaves, was invited by Gen. J. H. Love 
In 1854, his four oldest sons left to a council of war. Being dis- 
Ohio and took up their residence gusted with the proposal of a 
in Lykins County, Kansas, peaceable adjustment, he said: 
near the village of Ossawatomie, "Tell the general when he wants 
not farfrom the Missouri border, me to fight to say so; but that is 

There the struggle between the only order I will ever obey." 
Anti-slavery and pro-slavery Fighting was averted by an 
settlers was on, and the Brown's amicable arrangement under 



21 



which the pro-slavery men 
withdrew, but the place was 
ag-ain beseig^ed, and on May 
21st 1854, under a promise of 
protection, the inhabitants g-ave 
up their arms, but this promise 
was violated in many particulars. 
Among" those captured were two 
of Brown's sons, one of whom 
John Brown Jr. was driven on 
foot at the head of a Cavalry 
company, at a trot, for a dis- 
tance of nine miles to Ossawa- 
tomie, with his arms tied behind 
him. Other outrages were com- 
mitted in retaliation for which 
Brown and his men are accused 
of having- deliberately assasi- 
nated five pru-slavery men at 
Ossawatomie at night having 
called them from their beds for 
that purpose. This act has been 
severely condemned on the one 
side and justified on the other by 
the circumstances of provocation 
and aggravation. On June the 
2nd 1856, Brown with a small 
body of determined men defeated 
a pro-slavery body at Black Jack, 
capturing Capt. Pate and 30 of 
his men. In August 1856, with 
only 30 men, he was attacked 
near Ossawatomie by a bod}^ of 
about 500. About half his force 
was cut off, but with the re- 
mainder he resisted for about 
half an hour, and then affected 
a successful retreat. Here one 
of his sons was killed. Six vears 
later, when f^awrence was again 
threatened, he was elected com- 
mander and prepared to defend 



the place, but the attack was 
not made. Assuming that the 
war in Kansas would continue, 
Brown left for the east to obtain 
arms and ammunition, taking 
three of his sons with him, and 
did not return for a year. His 
mission was unsuccessful, 
for he openly proposed the 
arming- and drilling of men for 
service in Kansas. Many people 
beleived him to be insane. 

The Kansas trouble being 
practically settled and order 
restored, he conceived and 
determined to put into execution 
the idea of an attack upon the 
slave system at Harpers Ferry. 
With a small body of followers 
he went to Iowa, where they 
spent the winter of 1857 and 
1858 in drilling. In strict confi- 
dence he told his friends of the 
contemplated expedition. Ex- 
pecting aid from fugitive slaves, 
of whom there were many in 
Canada, he held a secret meeting 
of them at Chatam, Canada West, 
in May, 1858, where a "Provis- 
ional Constitution and Ordi- 
nances for the People of the 
United States," drafted by him- 
self, was adopted, one of the ar- 
ticles of which disclaimed any 
intention to overthrow- the gov- 
ernment of the United States or 
dissolve the Union, but declared 
for alterations by way of "amend- 
ment and repeal." Brown was 
chosen Commander-in-chief; J. 
H, Kogi, Secretary of War; Owen 
Brown, Treasurer; Richard 



22 

Realf, Secretary of State; and him, and in January, 1859, he 
Elder Monroe, a colored man, started north with the slaves and 
President. Being- unable from four white men, pursued by a 
want of means to proceed at once party of 30 men who were in 
at Harpers Ferry and put his creased to 42. He made a stand 
plans mto execution, he returned in a log- cabin, and, after provid- 
to Kansas, and settled in the ing- for the safety of the women 
southern part of the State which and children, he prepared for 
was yet in a condition of turmoil, battle and sallied forth, but his 
On the 19th of September, a pursuers all fled but four, who 
slave crossed the river from were made prisoners. Then he 
Missouri to Brown's cabin and went on into Iowa and finally con- 
informed him that he and his ducted the slaves into Canada, 
family had been sold and were to Brown's next venture was his 
be sent to Texas the next day. visionary and futile attack on 
Thereupon, Brown crossed the Harpers Ferry, the storv of 
river with 20 men and liberated v.hich has been told in detail, 
these slaves with 6 others, 11 in During- all these years of excite- 
all, and took them into Kansas, ment and daring- bis wife and 
killing^ one of the owners in doing- 3'ounger children were at North 
so. This was an act the anti- Elba, New York, and his remains 
siaverv ])eople could not justify, were shipped to that place for 
They refused him protection, burial. 
A larire reward was otfered for 



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